Lally column pole pad

ABSTRACT

A cylindrical sheathing for wrapping around a lally column including a slit running along its length extending from its outside to its inside surface in forming a hinged channel, with a double sided adhesive on at least one of the opposing channel faces in wrapping around the column, with the sheathing being of a resilient closed cell foam composition.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0001] Research and development of this invention and Application have not been federally sponsored, and no rights are given under any Federal program.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS NONE REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX

[0002] Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] 1. Field of the Invention

[0004] This invention relates to padded pole guards, in general, and to a protective pole guard for a lally column, in particular.

[0005] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0006] As is well known and understood, lally columns in a person's basement to support the weight of the house or in a garage to support its roof or rooms above, are not very attractive in appearance. Typically made of steel, they are often painted to inhibit rust formation, usually a reddish-brown. If left unfinished in a living space, the metal poles are potential safety hazards to children playing or to adults who may walk into them. When installed in an area to be “finished off”, the columns are most frequently boxed-in; however, this yields sharp edges and protruding nails which represent dangers to children and adults alike utilizing those areas. In a garage situation, the poles (whether metal or boxed in wood), can still cause dents to car doors when hit. Moreover, even to box-in those lally columns, a significant amount of carpentry skill is required—which the average homeowner does not possess. Using a professional to accomplish this, on the other hand, could cost (together with materials) several thousands of dollars for doing a finished basement having 6-12 of these columns for support.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0007] It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a new and improved manner of protecting steel poles, in general, and lally columns, in particular.

[0008] It is an object of the invention, also, to provide such a manner of protection which can be easily and inexpensively installed requiring neither tools to do, nor any enhanced level of skill.

[0009] It is another object of the invention to provide such protection in a manner that is attractive in appearance, and which can be coordinated with any design for the surrounding area.

[0010] It is a further object of the invention to provide such a manner of lally column protection which would be difficult for removal by a small child, but easy for an adult when desiring to redecorate a basement surrounding later on.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] As will become clear from the following description, a pole guard for the invention especially suited for padding columns of circular cross-section and predetermined diameter includes a cylindrical sheathing of predetermined length for wrapping around the column, with the cylindrical sheathing having an inside surface providing an inner diameter slightly in excess of that of the column, an outside surface providing an outer diameter substantially in excess of the diameter of the column and defining a thickness for the sheathing, and a slit running along the length of the sheathing forming a hinged channel between its inside and outside surfaces. Means are provided for fastening the opposing faces of the channel on either side of the slit in wrapping around the column—and for use with lally columns, the sheathing is composed of a resilient foam material substantially of 12{fraction (3/4)} inch inside surface circumference.

[0012] For use in the wrapping of a lally column, the cylindrical sheathing may be of a length substantially 7½ feet or 8 feet, depending upon the length of the lally column to be covered. When constructed of a resilient foam material (such as a closed cell polyethylene foam, or Ethafoam as available from the Dow Chemical Company), the sheathing can be easily cut with a knife to the desired length. Such sheathings may be colored, according to the invention, to a primary color such as red, blue or green, or with a textured color, as a marble to match a room's surrounding. A {fraction (3/4)} inch thickness has been found to afford sufficient protection when running into or bumping into the lally column—and the sheathing can be installed easily by the use of adhesive on at least one of the opposing channel faces along the longitudinal slit. Such adhesive could be under a peelable covering on each face of the hinged channel—or, with a double sided adhesive, could be located under a peelable covering on either one or both opposing faces.

[0013] To install the column in position, then, once the sheathing has been prepared for the required length, all that is required is to peel off the covering, followed by a wrapping of the sheathing around the column, and the joining of the opposing face channels with the adhesive backing. If the resilient foam sheathing is of an excessive length to begin with, it can easily be cut with a knife; otherwise, it is just simply wrapped around the column through the hinged channel, peeling off the protective coverings, and bringing the opposing channel faces together in adhesion. (In this respect, it will be appreciated that the 12{fraction (3/4)} inch inside surface circumference for the sheathing is particularly suited for the wrapping of lally columns; for other poles, a different inside diameter and surface circumference may be required instead—such as when the sheathing is intended to be used as parking lot post guards either at the front end of a pull-in parking space, or at the rear end of a back-in space.)

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0014] These and other features of the invention will be more clearly understood from a consideration of the following description, taken in connection with the sole Figure of the drawing showing a pole guard constructed in accordance with the invention, particularly for use in the padding of lally columns.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] In FIG. 1, the pole guard for padding columns of circular cross-section according to the invention is shown at 10 as including a cylindrical sheathing 12 of predetermined length 100 for wrapping around the column 5. The sheathing 12 has an inside surface 14 providing an inner diameter 102 slightly in excess of the diameter of the column 5, and an outside surface 16 providing an outer diameter 104 substantially in excess of that column diameter. A thickness 106 thus results between the inside and outside surfaces 14, 16.

[0016] In accordance with the invention, a slit 18 runs along the length 100 of the sheathing 12 between the inside and outside surfaces 14, 16, forming a hinged channel 20 between the inside and outside surfaces 14, 16. The opposing faces of the channel 22, 24 on either side of the slit 18 are covered over by peelable tapes 26; beneath at least one of them, a double-sided adhesive is provided on the channel faces 22, 24. With the channel 20 spread open, the cylindrical sheathing 12 can be wrapped around the column 5—and when constructed of a closed cell foam (such as a closed cell polyethylene foam), is easily malleable and lightweight to permit this to be done simply and easily, without effort. With the sheathing 12 being of substantially 12¾ inside surface circumference, the sheathing can be wrapped substantially completely around a lally column. Peeling off the tape then allows the opposing facing surfaces to be brought together with an easy adhesion of the opposing channel faces—especially if a double sided adhesive is included on both such faces.

[0017] In such manner, once adhered together, the wrap-around sections are secured in a substantially non-removable manner—at least, one which is difficult for children to separate. With the sheathing 12 being black or white, or colored of a primary red, blue, yellow or green color, an attractive appearance can be produced—or alternatively, one which might be textured to match the room. Where the inside surface 14 and outside surface 16 for the sheeting 12 are selected to provide a thickness of substantially {fraction (3/4)} inch, adequate protection can be had against injury from accidently running into, or bumping into, the steel lally column, and without any possibility of getting ones clothing caught on any nail protrusion which characterized previous boxed-in configurations of lally column enclosures. In this respect, while hook-and-loop type adhesives available to alternatively join the opposing channel face surfaces together might be usable, experience has shown that they are not as attractive for this intended use, and because of the ease with which they could be separated by a child for removal. With the adhesion of the present invention, adult strength is needed, and is adequate to separate the facing channel surfaces 22, 24 in those instances when it might be desired to change already installed sheathing as room decor is modified—or to take along at the time of a homeowner's moving.

[0018] While there have been described what are considered to be preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the teachings herein. For at least such reason, therefore, resort should be had to the claims appended hereto for a true understanding of the scope of the invention. 

I claim:
 1. A pole guard for padding columns of circular cross-section and predetermined diameter comprising: a cylindrical sheathing of predetermined length for wrapping around said column, said cylindrical sheathing having an inside surface providing an inner diameter slightly in excess of said predetermined diameter, an outside surface providing an outer diameter substantially in excess of said predetermined diameter and defining a thickness for said sheathing, and a slit running along the length of said sheathing forming a hinged channel between the inside and outside surfaces thereof; and means for fastening opposing faces of said hinged channel on either side of said slit in wrapping around said column; and wherein said sheathing is composed of a resilient foam material of substantially 12{fraction (3/4)} inch inside surface circumference.
 2. The pole guard of claim 1 wherein said means fastens said opposing channel faces on either side of said slit in a substantially non-removable manner.
 3. The pole guard of claim 2 wherein said cylindrical sheathing is of one of substantially 7½ and 8 foot lengths.
 4. The pole guard of claim 2 wherein said cylindrical sheathing is of substantially {fraction (3/4)} inch thickness.
 5. The pole guard of claim 2 wherein said outside surface of said cylindrical sheathing is colored of a primary color.
 6. The pole guard of claim 5 wherein said outside surface of said cylindrical sheathing is colored of a textured color.
 7. The pole guard of claim 1 wherein said cylindrical sheathing is of a closed cell foam composition.
 8. The pole guard of claim 1 wherein said cylindrical sheathing is of a closed cell polyethylene foam composition.
 9. The pole guard of claim 7 wherein said cylindrical sheathing is of an Ethafoam construction.
 10. The pole guard of claim 2 including first and second peelable coverings overlying said opposing channel faces, and removable therefrom in wrapping said sheathing around said column.
 11. The pole guard of claim 10 wherein said means includes a double-sided adhesive on at least one of said opposing channel faces underlying said peelable covering thereof.
 12. The pole guard of claim 10 wherein said means includes a double sided adhesive on both of said underlying channel faces underlying the peelable covering thereof. 